Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Births Mar 1891   Higgins Malcolm Leslie  Epsom 2a 18.

In 1901 Malcolm was a 10 year old pupil at boarding school at 7 Margaret Street, East Marylebone under the headship of a Church of England clergyman William Whitworth. His brother John was also boarding there. The rest of Malcolm's family were still living in West Ewell and his father was now a manager at a woollen cloth wholesalers. Brother Gordon was working as a salesman and Hugh was an apprentice both for a wholesale draper while sister Muriel was at home and Gerald at school. He had another four siblings. Kenneth Stuart aged 8. Alan aged 6. Donald aged 3 and Dora aged 1. Malcolm later attended Tiffin Grammar School in Kingston upon Thames. His brother Gordon married in 1904.

On 5 May 1910 Malcolm's brother Kenneth enlisted for 4 years into the Territorial Force, London Brigade RFA. Also that year Malcolm's mother, aged 53, died and when the 1911 census was taken only his widowed father and six of his siblings were living at home. Muriel aged 30 was keeping house. John aged 24 was a clerk in a timber brokers. Kenneth aged 18 was a clerk for a shipping merchant and Alan aged 16 was a clerk for a wholesale drapery, while Donald aged 13 and 11 year old Dora were at school.

Brothers Malcolm. Gerald. Hugh, Kenneth. Donald and John all emigrated to Australia.

Aged 20, Malcolm set sail from London on 25 March 1911 for Freemantle. Western Australia aboard the ship Australind. After arriving. Malcolm headed east inland to the mining area of Kalgoorlie where, according to the 1916 electoral roles, he and his brother Gerald had found work as labourers in the Main Camp of Kurrawang. Yilgarn. Their other brothers were all working at that time in the Swan district of Perth: Kenneth was working as a farm employee for L.G.B. Weston in Tambellup. brother Hugh was working as a tree puller and John as a labourer both in Harvey.

On 10 September 1914 at Helena Vale, Western Australia. Malcolm enlisted into the 11th Battalion Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F). the first battalion to be raised in Western Australia. His 26 year old brother Gerald had enlisted into the same battalion the day before and had the previous service number 51. Gerald stated that he had previously served for 4 years with the 16th Battalion City of London. Gerald was wounded in action on four separate occasions but survived and was discharged from the A. I. F. in 1919.

Malcolm stated that he was 23 years and 8 months, worked as a labourer, and had previously served for 1 year in the 3rd London Brigade. Royal Field Artillery. After Malcolm's death, his eldest brother Gordon stated that his brother's occupation had been 'Sleeper Cutting'. His father Gordon, of 'Wendover Villa' West Ewell, was his next of kin, however his father died on 16 October 1919. and Malcolm's eldest brother, also Gordon, became his official next of kin. He was medically examined at Blackbov Hill (so named after the native Blackboy bushes) and found to be fit for active service.

Malcolm was 6 feet 1 1/4 inches tall, weighed 172 lbs and had a chest measurement of 38 inches. He had a fair complexion, grey eyes, brown hair, and had a scar on the inside of his left leg below the knee. His religion was C of E.  - ^{Courtesy of Geoffrey Gillon}